Some trips to abroad were nice, especially first Rocky Mountains visit. Staggering Rockies indeed. Also a hiking trip to Lemmenjoki national park was very nice. Finding suitable places to do running on Tokyo downtown was quite difficult, whereas London offered several places for it.

The best photo taken by the undersigned during 2010? For sure the one from the Gulf of Bothnia, i.e. on the sea in the west coast of Finland, on eve of Midsummer. the sea was extremely calm, practically no wind at all. Here's the photo:

My best photo of the year 2010

Prospects for the year 2011? Less travelling abroad and more outdoor recreation activities at homeland.

Did a 11 km snowshoeing walk around the forest in northern part of the central park in Helsinki. Here's the route (link to Google Maps). It took about four hours with some breaks. Had some sandwiches and hot coffee in backpack and enjoyed a short lunch break at Niskala Arboretum. The sun appeared some couple of hours for the first time after some weeks.

28 December 2010

Exercised a 3 hours snowshoe walking with a friend of mine in Oittaa recreation area, in Espoo Finland. There was a marked 4 km track for snowshoeing made into a middle of the woods, having lots of ups and downs of local hills. Depth of the snow was about 50cm, all of it still like powder.

25 December 2010

Went skiing on a frozen lake in western Finland on a Christmas Day. Did two rounds around the lake, altogether 24 km. A blue dim day with about -15C temperature. The lake was frozen about a feet thickness, carrying the weight of a car. The ski track was made by a snow mobile previous day. Saw only a couple of other skiiers and a snow mobile on a fast track.

A birch tree bent over the frozen lake

A deer recently killed by a wolf

A frozen scenery

Small tracks on the snow between the rushes and the ground, mice perhaps?

19 December 2010

Ran a half distance marathon on a very heavy snow storm.
Here's the route (link).

After yesterday's snow fall, today there was officially 68cm (about 2ft 4in) of deep snow !
On the following day done another half marathon distance, by skiing (cross country skiing on classic style).
Here's the route (link).

05 December 2010

The 2nd time of the season done some 20km of cross country skiing at northern part of the central park in Helsinki. The weather changed during the morning, sometimes from sunny spells to cloudy and finally some new snow, having practically no wind at all. Ski tracks were made during all the day, making skiing easy. Quite a lot of people, especially at Paloheina hut.

02 October 2010

Paddled with a friend of mine to Espoo archipelago. There was an unbelievable fog almost all the time, one could not see more than just a few meters ahead. Had a break in Vasikkasaari island. Returned back to Helsinki by circling Miessaari island from south direction. The fog started quickly disappear when we approached near to Käärmesaari island, bringing cloudless blue sunny sky.

Absolutely one of the nicest weather conditions to experience by paddling.